Cape Canaveral Man Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison For Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed has sentenced William Alfred Harris (62, Cape Canaveral) to five years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Harris to forfeit the electronic device used in the commission of the offense and to pay a $250,000 fine and $22,000 in additional assessments. Harris entered a guilty plea on April 30, 2024.

According to court documents, in January 2023, the FBI identified Harris as being a recipient or downloader of child sex abuse material (CSAM) on a file-sharing platform. Agents downloaded multiple images and videos of CSAM from Harris's internet protocol (IP) address. In May 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Harris's residence and seized his laptop. A forensic examination of the computer revealed CSAM, three file wipers, and encryption software. In addition to the 21 images of CSAM recovered on the laptop, the forensic examination also uncovered a pattern of Harris downloading, viewing, and then deleting CSAM.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.